Free Butane Gas delivered to Georgeville Residents

Press Release - Belmopan - January 6, 2011 - The people of Georgeville area of the Cayo District today were treated to free butane gas for their cooking and kitchen needs.
The process of delivering the butane gas started around eleven in the morning and, because of the large amount of villagers who came out with their empty gas cylinders, it lasted well into the afternoon, until every single resident, from Central Farm to Cool Shade, got their fill.
On hand to make sure the process went smoothly and fairly, was Area Representative and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Rene Montero. Minister Montero said this is an excellent way of starting out the New Year, helping the residents improve their standard of living, and perhaps in a very timely manner, when most of the butane gas was used up during the Christmas and Years Holiday’s cooking and baking.Minister Montero thanked the staff of Belize Natural Energy for the generous donation and their overall contribution in making today’s event a total success. The scope of today’s activity encompassed all villagers of Georgeville, which covers every resident from Central Farm to Cool Shade. At last count, some two hundred and 25 butane cylinders had been completely filled up.
The event was made possible through the kind donation of Belize Natural Energy, BNE, which donated three thousand five hundred gallons of the gas. For his part, Daniel Gutierrez of the Marketing Department, Belize Natural Energy, said that his Company has entered a new phase of producing liquefied petroleum gas, more commonly known as butane. “We are now producing butane gas in Belize, Belizean butane, and we want the people to be aware of this, and share in the benefits”, said Mr. Gutierrez. BNE is seeking Government’s permission to market the product directly to consumers, which would result in substantial benefits in reduced butane gas prices.
When prompted about upcoming developments in his Ministry in the next few months, Minister Montero said that the Integrated Farming System is about to be launched. This will directly assist some sixty farmers, who will undergo personal training to improve their farming practices, so that they can make a living exclusively off their farm. This will allow them to be self-employed and even go on to employ other people, hopefully, mainly youths in the rural areas.

BEL Working to Restore Power Following Passage of Hurricane Richard

Press Release - October 25, 2010 - BEL - Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) advises that the Company conducted a damage assessment earlier today and has commenced restoration works to provide power supply to areas affected by power outages since the passage of Hurricane Richard on Sunday.

The hurricane caused downed power lines and damaged utility poles in several parts of the Belize and Cayo Districts. Employees are working diligently to restore power as soon as possible with top priority placed on restoration to critical services such as hospitals.

As part of the restoration works, BEL work crews are thoroughly inspecting distribution power lines as well as service connections to customers’ homes and businesses to ensure that it is safe to energize each community. BEL must ensure that these issues are addressed before energizing power systems in various communities because live wires lying in water presents a critical safety hazard to the public.

Customers along the Western Highway from La Democracia to Blackman Eddy may not have power restored until Tuesday due to extensively damaged transmission lines.

Power supply has been restored to Independence Village, Punta Gorda Town and surrounding areas. The Company expects to restore power to approximately 50% of customers in Dangriga Town and surrounding areas some time today, while repairs to damaged infrastructure continues.

In Belmopan, San Ignacio and surrounding areas, the Company is aiming to restore power supply to at least 80% of customers by later tonight.

In Belize City, power will likely be restored to 60% of customers tonight and in Ladyville and Hattieville, 90% of customers.

Pockets of customers in all affected areas will remain without power due to extensively damaged infrastructure and these areas need to remain disconnected in order to carry out repairs.

The Northern Zone, which includes the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts and San Pedro Town were not affected by power outages due to Hurricane Richard.

BEL thanks customers for their patience and will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available.

-END-

Cayo family awaits the return of their father

-Press Release - Elias Avella - August 27, 2010 - Maria Ochoa, 36 years, anxiously awaits the return of her husband, Edgar David Gonzalez. The forty seven year old watchman, had departed from home at about 4:00 PM on Sunday, August 8th. According to Ochoa, her husband was intending to report to work at BWEL Gas Company in Belmopan that very evening. Ochoa also reports that he was last seen in a black and white checkered shirt, a long black pants and brown leather shoes.
“If anybody knows him and sees him to call the police station”, says Ms. Maria Ochoa, who has five children waiting patiently at home.

You can contact Ms. Maria Ochoa at Cellular 628-5856. She and her family reside near the Novelos Convention Centre; in Santa Elena Town, Cayo District. The family is currently being assisted by the sisters of the local Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Hawkesworth Bridge Pedestrian Crossing presents danger

-July 1, 10 - Above are photos of imminent danger on the Hawkesworth Bridge, which links the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena in the Cayo District. Based on the images, one can see that there is no support under the highly corroded metal plate.

The danger, should anyone fall through, would be fatal. Hundreds of persons cross this bridge daily.

Mr. Garbutt, from the Ministry of Works (824-2077) has been informed on this grave situation.

257 students of the Cayo Central Area receive Government Subsidies

Press Release - June 21, 2010 - GOB Press Office, Belmopan - Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Cooperative and Area representative of Cayo Central, Hon. Rene Montero, today delivered subsidies to students to the Cayo Central standard six students who will be attending high school.

The 257 students receiving the subsidies are from the Santa Elena Roman Catholic School, the Seventh Day Adventist, El Progresso, San Antonio Roman Catholic School, San Antonio United Pentecostal School, Cristo Rey Roman Catholic School, Buena Vista Government School, San Marcos School, La Gracia Government School, Saint Peters School and George Ville Anglican School.

While delivering the subsidies, Minister Montero encouraged the students to stay in school and strive for the best, since they are the future of Belize and to remember that education is the tool that will empower them for any future endeavour.

New structures ‘unearthed’ at Belize’s Caracol Mayan Ruin

The ruins of Caracol are located in the Vaca Plateau of the Cayo District and recent studies performed by NASA have unearthed thousands of new structures using their most advanced technology. Utilizing NASA’s laser tools, researchers have discovered and illustrated in a 3D form, the complex urban centers built at the ancient Maya City of Caracol.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, May 11th, a NASA based group revealed information - which normally would take 25 years to collect – and was done over a span of 4 days gathered by using a technique called LiDar (light Detection and Ranging). Airborne LiDAR made research significantly easier, and faster, allowing researchers to see 'beyond the rainforest'. Laser beams emitted from a plane were able to penetrate the thick canopy that covers the site to reach sensors on the ground. The laser survey then produced images of the ancient settlement and its surroundings, covering a 200 square kilometre radius in just four days. “It is very exciting,” said Arlen Chase, Anthropology Professor at the University of Central Florida, where the data is being analyzed. “The images not only reveal topography and built features, but also demonstrate the integration of residential groups, monumental architecture, roadways and agricultural terraces, vividly illustrating a complete communication, transportation and subsistence system.”
This breakthrough and results of the LiDAR mapping project in Caracol are significant. A total of eleven new causeways, five new causeway termini, tens of thousands of agricultural terraces and many hidden caves were located.

The new developments have prompted Nasa’s researchers to recreate the Caracol landscape in 3D model so as to better understand the Maya Civilization in an effort to discover clues as to what may have happened to the maya empire in that era.

Currently in the state of excavation and restoration Caracol is the largest known Maya center in Belize. The largest pyramid in Caracol, "Canaa" (Sky Place), rises 140 feet high, and it is the tallest manmade structure in all of Belize. Since Caracol is located in the Chiquibul Rain Forest, there is a plethora of flora and fauna to enhance the true beauty of this magnificent Maya center.
Caracol is an enormous ceremonial center, perhaps the largest site in Belize.